WREXHAM have hit the woodwork more times then any other team in the third division this year (13). And they've also had the most shots on target (200-plus). This will please and irritate manager Smith, who constantly plays up his side's quality in front of goal.

If DS is looking for more encouragement, he should look no further.

Altogether, his team have played 31 games, and won 10 by one-goal margins - a nice habit to have acquired. On the discipline front, things also look promising. Over 2,790 minutes of play, the Reds have picked up only 33 yellow cards this year, 19 fewer than the opposition.

The issue of half-time is a big one. Smith's men have been leading at the break in nine games, and have gone on to lose none of these (five wins and four draws). However, when they're trailing at the interval, they never go on to win (they have drawn two and lost six).

This tells me that most matches are usually over after 45 minutes. And when the spotlight is turned to the players, the stats are intriguing:

Barrett: Has yet to score in 26 games - not really good enough.

Bennett: Is the only player to win a full international cap this season.

Congratulations to him.

Carey: Astonishingly, he is yet to be booked this year, and that after 15 starts.

Dibble: He has already been substituted twice - highly unusual for a keeper.

Carlos Edwards: Has been subbed only once this year - a real sign of his improved performances.

Paul Edwards: He has scored only one goal in 1,614 minutes - but it was a decent one.

Ferguson: Has got the worst disciplinary record at the club: five yellow cards and one red. No surprises there.

Holmes: He has come on as sub in 10 games - somewhat unusual for a left-back.

Jones: All his five goals have come away from North Wales, and not surprisingly sections of the home crowd are now getting on his back.

Lawrence: 75 per cent of his yellow cards have come away from home - where perhaps he is even more vulnerable to pacy forwards.

Morrell: He is the top goalscorer in the third division with 22 strikes. The Golden Boot awaits.

Pejic: Has not been booked in 2,274 minutes of on-field action - a remarkable record.

Roberts: He has seen yellow only once in 24 games - almost as impressive.

Rogers: Lets in a goal every 72 minutes (five conceded in six hours). Not as bad as some fans may have thought.

Sam: Has come on as sub a mammoth 19 times - which indicates that Smith doesn't totally trust him.

Thomas: Has been substituted nine times (six at home), which tells its own sorry story.

Trundle: He has scored every 297 minutes in all competitions. Very poor.

Whitfield: Has played 534 minutes at home and 555 away. And has looked competent throughout.

Whitley: He has spent more minutes on the pitch than any other Dragons player in 2002-3 (2,639). But still hasn't exerted the influence he did in 2001-2.